“The key to improving the economic and cultural status of all
our citizens is the ability to have jobs available. Therefore,
along with Mount Airy’s being a great place to live and raise a
family with its excellent schools and rich heritage, we must
continually search for industries both large and small to provide
adequate employment for everyone. A strong vibrant economy is the
cornerstone of society.”
Mayor David Rowe
City of Mount Airy, North Carolina
MOUNT AIRYSURRY COUNTY
SURRY COUNTYECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIP, INC.city of Mount airy
Mount Airy, the largest of Surry County’s four municipalities,
is a postcard-perfect
community of 10,000 residents that sits within easy reach of
I-77, I-74, U.S. 52,
U.S. 601 and the Blue Ridge Parkway. A rich legacy as a
manufacturing center
and backdrop for corporate headquarters has created a unique
infrastructure-rich
environment for industrial and business service operations. Its
colorful musical
scene, tourism attractions and “hometown” vibe make Mount Airy a
growing
destination for entrepreneurs and new residents at all stages of
life.
Business Backdrop: ready sites and surplus capacityMount Airy’s
economic roots can be traced to a massive granite quarry not far
away. The Ararat River, along with other powerful, picturesque
waterways, helped shape one of the nation’s most vibrant local
textile economies. Modern Mount Airy remains a backdrop for apparel
and textile production; close relationships between local
corporations and the community is one visible legacy of the city’s
long list of headquarters operations.
Along with abundant water, wastewater service and electric
power, Mount Airy boasts two of the region’s most attractive
industrial parks. The 350-acre Piedmont Triad West Corporate Park
is home to a diverse roster of commercial and industrial tenants.
Certified “shovel-ready” by the North Carolina Department of
Commerce, the park has easy access from I-74. Westwood Industrial
Park is located off U.S. Highway 52. It too is home to a variety of
manufacturers, service operations and administrative offices.
Westwood is only 45 miles from Winston-Salem and about an hour’s
drive to Piedmont Triad International Airport.
Mount Airy offers a one-of-a-kind piece of rural Americana. The
city was largely the inspiration of TV’s “Mayberry.” Thousands
flock to Mount Airy each year to visit attractions such as the Andy
Griffith Playhouse, the Museum of Regional History, and numerous
shops and eateries along the city’s vibrant Main Street. A growing
tourism economy combines with steady streams of new residents to
create a dynamic, lucrative environment for entrepreneurs and small
companies.
Photo: Robert Merritt
Photo: Hobart Jones
teaching, learning, preparing: schools and collegesMount Airy
City Schools offer safe, student-centered instruction supported by
the latest educational technologies. Small class sizes and ongoing
parental involvement are two key ingredients of the system’s
success. The main campus of Surry Community College, in nearby
Dobson, offers college-transfer, continuing education and
custom-tailored workforce development curricula. Wake Forest
University, now among the nation’s premier liberal arts
institutions, is a short drive away, as is the North Carolina
School of the Arts, Winston-Salem State University and other
four-year campuses of the state’s renowned university system.
a cosMopolitan coMMunity: things to doAs one of North Carolina’s
most dynamic small cities, Mount Airy offers recreational and
cultural amenities to fit all tastes. The city’s music scene—found
outdoors and in numerous inside venues—provides an upbeat
soundtrack spanning mountain folk and indie rock. High school
athletic events draw large crowds of local and visiting spectators,
and the expansive Reeves Community Center is an exciting hub for
fitness, fellowship and fun. The area’s storied history can be
absorbed at the popular Mount Airy Museum of Regional History,
whose rotating exhibits have included items from the Smithsonian
collection. The city hosts colorful festivals that celebrate the
region’s wine, cuisine, music and unique assortment of native sons
and daughters.
2019 deMographicsSurry CountyPopulation: 71,783Median Age:
43Median Family Income: $41,068 Median Home Value:* $121,000
Mount AiryPopulation: 10,208 Median Age: 46Median Family Income:
$33,988 Median Home Value:* $136,800
*Owner OccupiedSource: US Census, 2019
Major eMployersNorthern Regional HospitalRenfro Corporation
Altec
airportsPiedmont Triad InternationalSix Major Carriers
16 Non-stop destinations
60 Minutes from Mount Airy
Charlotte Douglas International10 Major Carriers
130 Non-stop destinations
105 Minutes from Mount Airy
Major roadsI-77, I-74
US Hwy 52, US Hwy 601
NC 89, NC 103, NC 104
distance to regional citiesCharlotte, NC—100 miles
Greensboro,
NC—65 miles
Roanoke, VA—90 miles
Winston-Salem, NC—35 miles
SURRY COUNTYECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIP, INC.
1218 STATE ST | p.o. Box 7128 | MOUNT AIRY, NC 27030 | ph
336-401-9900 | f 336-401-9901
Photo: Hobart Jones
